Rob Zombie will begin production of a second remake of "The Blob" next spring.

Inspired by the 1958 horror classic staring Steve McQueen, the film will serve as Zombie's next directing project following "Halloween II," which opens in theaters Friday. This is the second remake of "The Blob," the first coming in 1988 from director Chuck Russell ("The Scorpion King").

In the original movie, a meteorite crashes into a rural community, depositing a blob-like creature that consumes humans and swells to a monstrous size.

Zombie has already begun writing the film, and will direct and produce. Though he is a fan of the original, he intends to deliver a healthy twist to the material.

"My intention is not to have a big red blobby thing -- that's the first thing I want to change," Zombie said. "That gigantic Jello-looking thing might have been scary to audiences in the 1950s, but people would laugh now."

Zombie will produce with Brian Witten and former Dimension Films president Richard Saperstein; original "The Blob" producer Jack H. Harris; and Judith Parker Harris of Worldwide Entertainment Corp. and Andy Gould. Shara Kay and Jeremy Platt will be co-producers, with David Mendez serving as executive producer.

Saperstein said that funding is in place to make an R-rated film that will cost around $30 million. The budget model is similar to that of recent features like "Cloverfield" and "District 9."

"I'd been looking to break out of the horror genre, and this really is a science fiction movie about a thing from outer space," Zombie explained. "I intend to make it scary, and the great thing is I have the freedom once again to take it in any crazy direction I want to."

The script is expected to be completed this fall during Zombie's tour for his new album.